Pecan cracker



June 23, 1953 D. c. LANDGRAF PECAN CRACKER Filed June 25, 1951 Fig, 2

David 6. Landgraf INVENTOR.

WF BM Patented June 23, 1953- UNITED STATES PATENTVIOFFICE PECAN caAcKER David C. Landgraf, Simpson, Okla. Application June 25, 1951, Serial No. 233,283

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in manually operable nut crackers and has more particular reference to one which is expressly, but not necessarily, adapted to aptly and satisfactorily hold and crack pecans.

An object of the invention is to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve upon the prior art crackers, to devise one which is simple, practical, efiicient and capable of handling a variety of sizes and shapes while accomplishing the job with a minimum of effort and time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structural device which is unique in its overall construction and in which manufacturers and users will find their essential requirements and needs fully met, contained and eifectively available.

More specifically, it is an object to bring into use a strong and reliable construction which is characterized by relatively fixed and moveable jaws with the moveable jaw actuable in an axial direction toward the fixed jaw, said fixed jaw being novel in that it is mounted for ready adjustment in a fixed sleeve and has a set-screw for adjusting said jaw and then securely fastening it in its adjusted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in the aforementioned construction, a moveable jaw which is operatively joined with a lever operated block, said block being mounted for sliding and rotation in an accommodation fixedly mounted sleeve.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is perspective view of a pecan cracker constructed in accordance with the principles ofthe invention;

Figure 2 is a view, in section and elevation, taken on the horizontal or longitudinal line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 33 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The entire assemblage is disclosed in Figure 1 wherein the numeral 4 denotes an appropriate platen or base. This serves as a support for the nut holding and cracking means. In accomplishing this a foundation member 6 is provided and this takes the form of an angle iron which is 2 Claims. (01. 146-46) 2 fitted over one end or corner portion of the base with onefiange 8 vertical and the other flange l0 horizontal. Either one or both flanges will be secured to the base by screws or equivalent fasteners 12. At the left there is an open ended sleeve or cylinder 14 and this is welded or otherwise joined as at [6 to the top flange ID. The sleeve is provided with a cam slot [8 of appropriate curvature and length. Mounted for limited rotation and sliding in the sleeve is the relatively fixed jaw. This takes the form of a projectable and retractable sleeve 20 having an appropriate nut accommodating seat 22 at its right end as shown in Figure 2. This particular jaw may be further distinguished in that it may be properly described as an anvil. It is provided with a threaded set-screw 24 which is threaded through screw threaded holes provided therefor and which has a shank portion 25 operating in a cam slot i8 and has its head portion 26 available to serve as an operating finger-piece or knob. The non headed end of the shank binds against the interior surface of sleeve 14.

Referring now to the axially aligned complemental outer sleeve for the moveable jaw, this is denoted by the numeral 28 and is slightly longer than the sleeve M. It is also welded or otherwise fixed as at 30 to the angle iron or foundation 6. It is provided with an L-shaped slot, one branch of which is substantially straight as denoted at 32, and the other lateral branch of which is slightly curved to provide a cam 34. An end thrust block, which is cylindrical and solid is mounted for reciprocation in the sleeve 28 and this is denoted in Figure 2 by the numeral 36. It carries a readily attachable and detachable operating lever 38 provided with a suitable hand grip. Said block is provided with an axially projecting stud 42 which is threaded into an end portion 44 of the projectable and retractable inner sleeve 46 which constitutes the relatively moveable thrust producing jaw. The other end portion of the jaw 46 is also provided with an indentation of appropriate shape and suitably roughened, said seat being denoted at 48 and serving to accommodate the coacting end of the pecan or other nut'50.

In practice it will be obvious that the fixed or anvil forming jaw 20 is set at the desired place or point of projection by catching hold of the knob 26 and operating the set-screw 24 in the cam slot [8. In this way the jaw may be either projected or retracted to take the desired nut receiving and holding position. Once it is properly adjusted and the set-screw is tightened the 3 jaw is then held in the established place. The entire unit comprising the block 36, lever 38 and movable thrust jaw 46 is bodily slidable and therefore may be slide by way of the branch 32 of the slot means to permit the nut 50 to be readily put in position in the anvil jaw. Then, these parts may be returned to bring the jaw 46 into contact with the nut and cause the nut 50 to be seated in the seat 48. With the jaws adjusted in respect to each other and allowing the estimated amount of pressure for nut cracking it will be obvious that by catching hold of the knob and bringing the lever 38 down through the cam slot 34, the stud 42, acting in the end or.

nut 44, will press the jaw 46 against the nut 50 and squeeze same sufficiently to crack the shell in the desired manner. After one uses the device repeatedly it soon becomes evident how the respective jaws may be set in adjusted relation to each other for quick nut inserting, cracking and removing accomplishments.

It is evident that the lengthwise branch 32 of the aforementioned bayonet slot is, of course, preferably located in the top of the outer sleeve 28 and is of a suitable length and extends longitudinally in general parallelism to the lengthwise axis of said sleeve. The other arcuate or cam branch 34 of the slot is situated in one vertical side of the sleeve and is of a conforming helical curve related to the helical pitches and direction of operation of the cooperating screw threads in the nut 44 and threads on the stud 42'. This construction is necessary to bring about the desired relation of the bayonet slot and lever or handle 38 relative to the pitch and direction of the stated a screw threads of the stud and nut to bring about a proper movement of the jaw or seat 48 toward the seat 22 of the anvil forming sleeve 20.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials or rearrangement of parts may be resorted to in actual practice so long as no departure is made from the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asnew is:

1. A nut holding and cracking device of the class described comprising a portable base, an anvil jaw adjustably mounted on said base, an outer sleeve fixedly mounted on said base and disposed in axial alignment with said anvil jaw, said sleeve being open ended and provided with an L-shaped bayonet slot, a block mounted for rotation and reciprocation in the outer end portion of said sleeve, a lever rigidly attached to and projecting laterally from said block and selectively operable in the branches of said bayonet slot, an inner sleeve mounted in the inner end portion of said outer sleeve, said inner sleeve being provided at one end with a nut holding seat 60 and being provided at the opposite end with a screw threaded adjusting nut, and a screw thread-- anvil jaw.

,2.v A nut holding and cracking device of the class described comprising an angle iron adapted to be mounted on an end portion of a base and having horizontal and vertical flanges, an outer sleeve fixedly mounted on said horizontal flange,

1 said'sleeve being open at opposite ends and provided with an L-shaped bayonet slot with one branch in the top portion of the sleeve and the other branch in the side portion of the sleeve,.& block mounted for rotation and reciprocation in one end portion of said sleeve, a lever attached to and projecting laterally from said block and selectively operable in the two branches of the bayonet slot, an inner sleeve mounted in the inner end portion of said outer sleeve and provided at one end with a holding seat, and provide-d at its opposite end with a screw-threaded adjusting nut confined within the limits of said outer sleeve, a, screw-threaded stud formed axially with one end of said block and adjustably screwed into said adjusting nut, said one branch of the bayonet slot in the top portion of the sleeve being substantially straight and extending longitudinally in general parallelism in respect to the lengthwise axis of said sleeve, the other branch of the slot being formed in one vertical side of said sleeve and being of a conforming helical curvature related to the helical pitches and direction of operation of the 00.- operating screw threads in said adjusting nut and on said stud to insure proper movement of the holding seat toward and from the cooperating end of the inner sleeve, a second outer open ended sleeve fixedly mounted on the horizontal flange in axial alignment with said first-named outer sleeve and provided with a transversely disposed cam slot, an inner hollow sleeve mounted for adjustment in said second outer sleeve, a set-screw threaded through top and bottom openings provided therefor in said inner sleeve and having one end adjustably engageable with the interior of the outer sleeve and with the other end exe tending through and operable in said slot, the last-named inner sleeve having a seat opposed to said first-named seat.

DAVID C. LANDGRAF.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Simons Aug. 16, 1921v 

